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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: staff · track · arm · racket · fine · tube · stick · wax

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. track — to keep track
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. track — a song
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. wax — to grow
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. staff — employees
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. staff — a stick
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. tube — the underground
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. track — a path
  17. fine — all right
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. tube — a container
  23. fine — high quality
  24. racket — a loud noise

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com